Monday, October 30, 2023

AN ANGEL'S OBSESSION Spooktacular Feature!

 

HTML Features for An Angel’s Obsession Please Choose ONE to post Celia’s Picks: Spooky Spots in San Francisco



Celia’s Picks: Spooky Spots in San Francisco


My hometown is a beautiful combo of nature and architecture, has some of the nicest weather year round (including the awesome fog), excellent cuisine, abundant arts, and... for you lovers of the paranormal, there are a ton of spooky spots to explore, some of which make an appearance in my Tranquilli Bloodline vampire series. Here are my top five picks for Halloween chills and thrills in San Francisco!


1. The Armory
Located in the Mission District, this 200,000 square foot reproduction of a Moorish Castle was constructed in the early 1900s and used by the San Francisco National Guard. From 2006 until January 2018, it was owned by an adult entertainment company, and tours were available for all five floors of the historic building. My favorite floor by far is the wonderfully creepy basement:  a vast, cavernous space with visible remnants of its days as an armory (indoor rifle range!). Water runs through wide cracks in the basement floor's exposed concrete, adding to the spooky vibe.


2. Alcatraz Island
Also known as “The Rock,” Alcatraz sits in the San Francisco Bay, and is home to a large seabird population, the West Coast’s oldest functional lighthouse, and, of course, the infamous maximum, high-security prison, Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. You can guess the spookiest part, right? They say ghost of ex-cons haunt the prison. Take a nighttime tour and let them shut you in one of the 9ft by 5ft cells...if you dare.  *shiver*


3. Sutro Baths, Ocean Beach
Once upon a time (1896), this bathhouse was the world’s largest, indoor swimming facility. Located near Ocean Beach and below Cliff House, Sutro Baths burned to the ground in 1966 (arson). Today, you can hike around the ruins then venture into the spookiest spot of all: the cave. For the best spine-tingling experience, try it at night, when the fog swirls, the wind wails, and waves crash over the beach. Some say if you light a candle and leave it in the tunnel, a ghost will pick it up and fling it into the ocean...


4. Stow Lake, Golden Gate Park
Modeled after NYC’s Central Park, Golden Gate Park is a gorgeous expanse of greenery in San Francisco. Stow Lake (located west of the beautiful Japanese Tea Garden), is a great spot for picnics and a boat ride. If you venture there at night, beware of the lake’s resident ghost, the White Lady. They say that in the early 1900s, barefoot and dressed in a white dress, the White Lady lost her baby in the lake then drowned herself. There’s also a statue near the lake of a woman and two small children. Local gossip says it moves when the White Lady is on the prowl.


5. Mission Dolores Cemetery
What’s spookier than a cemetery? Mission Dolores Cemetery is the oldest burial ground in San Francisco and the resting place of city founders and thousands of First Californians (the Ohlone, Miwok, and more). It’s also one of the locations in Hitchcock’s 1958 classic film, “Vertigo.” You’ll find the cemetery next to Mission Dolores, the oldest building in San Francisco. Tour both, but don’t be surprised if the hairs on your nape stand at attention as you wander among the ancient tombstones and silent sentinel statues in the cemetery gardens. Spooky energy, even on a sunny day...



An Angel’s Obsession
The Cupid Dating Agency
Celia Breslin

Genre: Paranormal romance, fantasy romance, angel romance
Publisher: Celia Breslin
Date of Publication: May 2023
ISBN: 9798223559672
ASIN: B0C6V1R1FW
Number of pages: 120
Word Count: 29K
Cover Artist: Brantwijn Serrah

Tagline: An angel on a mission. A Celtic god seeking forgiveness. A passion that can’t be denied…

Book Description: 

Warrior-class angel and God’s messenger Gabrielle has spent an eternity in service, protecting the innocent in all dimensions. When the cupids and the Big Guy send her team to Cute Town, California, USA to run love-adjacent businesses like her beloved gym, she has no problem settling into the new assignment. Then a blast from her passion-filled but heartbreaking past literally rips holes in the fabric of reality separating Hell and Earth, and it’s up to Elle to locate the troublemaker and make him pay. All while protecting her heart.

Lugh, Celtic god of sun, light, and storms and all-around fun guy, has been nursing his broken heart for ages, and no amount of partying with pals in Hell or in the Sonoma wine country can ease the loss of the angel he let slip through his lightning-infused fingers. Luke would do anything to win back his fierce yet vulnerable Firecracker, so he’s elated when she crashes back into his life with a well-earned smackdown for his accidental role in the chaos messing up her new hometown.

Elle wants nothing to do with Luke, but when God and the cupids pair them up to investigate and resolve the real source of the problem, she has no choice but to comply. And maybe, just maybe, they can find a second chance at a forever love…


Amazon US     Amazon CA     Amazon UK       Angus&Robertson

Apple        BN     Kobo     Smashwords     Scribd     Vivlio


Luke was cannon-balled out of slumber by the sudden presence of one hundred-and-fifty pounds of hound landing on his back.

Facedown atop a supremely soft mattress with his arms stretched wide and his head hanging off the foot of the bed, it took him a second to rally his speech center. “What the actual bloody hell,

Bolt?”

Bolt ignored him, bouncing around Luke’s body, pitching him side to side, up, down, up, down.

“For feck’s sake.” What the double bloody hell was Bolt on about with all the yapping and yipping and bashing of Luke’s kidneys with his big paws?

Luke rolled onto his back. “Enough, Bolt. Sit.”

Eyes closed, he batted a hand at his hound, warding off the canine’s attempts to lick his face. “Go chase a squirrel, will you? Crikey.”

Bolt whined and smacked one large paw down upon Luke’s bare chest. Ouch. “Duuude,” he drawled. “Chill.”

Fingers snapped, silencing his dog lickety-split. Bolt plopped down next to him, tail thwacking against Luke’s leg right where his board shorts ended above the knee.

He elbowed his dog in the side. “Cut it out, cur.” Hold on. Snapping fingers… Who possessed the ability to boss his animal around and convince the stubborn bugger to obey?

Only one person in any dimension wielded this kind of puppy power. But no, it can’t be her. She’d made it clear he remained persona non grata in her life with her recent no-show in the Underworld.

With his heartbeat jackhammering in his chest, he sucked in a deep breath, soaking in the unique floral scent of the woman who broke his rarely used heart, hoping this was no mere post-party hallucination.

“Gabrielle,” he whispered. God’s messenger and elite warrior, the angel he’d admired and cherished. “Elle.” The woman he’d let down, and who ultimately walked away.

A grin spread over his face and happy chills frolicked down his body.

“Angel baby. You’re here.” He cranked open his eyelids to gaze up at her in wonder.

Lightning crackled in the depths of her glittering green eyes as she loomed over him, her unhappy expression promising pain. Yep, his angel was clearly not as thrilled as he was about this unexpected reunion.

Years of yearning crashed to the forefront. He ached to caress her smooth, cloud-pale skin, to bury his fingers in the long fire-red hair she always kept swept up in a high ponytail. Memories surged, of her curves pressed against him while they kissed under the stars in Faerie, of her wicked strong legs wrapped around his torso while they made love against his castle wall, on the spiral staircase, in the sky—

A snarl escaped his angel’s throat, and her arm shot downward, her fingers of steel snagging him by the throat and squeezing his windpipe.

“Luke.” She uttered his name as if it were the vilest curse word in any dimension, then lifted him with little effort and slammed him up against the wall…


About the Author:

Celia lives in California with her family. She writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance, and has a particular fondness for werewolves, vampires, angels, and the Fae. When not writing, you’ll find Celia exercising, reading a good book, hanging with her family, or indulging her addiction to fantasy TV shows and movies.








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Thursday, October 19, 2023

NATURAL DISASTER Witches of Willowbrook Book 1 by ALENA ORRISON

 


Natural Disaster
Witches of Willowbrook 
Book One
Alena Orrison

Genre: Low Fantasy / Witchy Fantasy
Publisher: Spirited Ink Press
Date of Publication: 10/19/2023
ISBN: 979-8-9880131-0-5
ASIN: B0CJGWNPJ5
Number of pages: 313
Word Count: 86,692
Cover Artist: Aspire Book Covers

Tagline: Will her grief and his betrayal make her Willowbrook's worst natural disaster?

Book Description: 

When Jessica loses both parents in a car accident, she seeks to honor their legacy of service in Willowbrook. Her parents loved the town and its people, and despite her desire for solitude, Jessica becomes interested in the lives of those around her. 

Grief-struck and juggling the garden along with her own business has Jessica stressed. She soon discovers the unpredictable weather reflects her internal turmoil.

Fearful of her powers and worried about the town's reaction, Jessica takes her brother's advice to attend a grief counseling group and begin meditating. She thinks she can restrain her magic if she can control her emotions. A witch from Willowbrook's coven contacts her and offers to teach Jessica how to use her magic. But learning does not come easy. Jessica's power spirals. The more she tries to rein it in, the wilder it becomes.

Then Zane, an attractive reporter from the city, arrives to do an investigative story on Willowbrook's odd weather patterns. Jessica realizes if her secret gets out, everyone she loves could be in danger of a witch hunt. Wanting a change of pace, Zane moves to Willowbrook. Jessica worries he'll be caught in the devastation of her powers. 

Can she learn to control her magic before she creates a Natural Disaster? And can she keep Zane from revealing everything?

Excerpt:

I clenched my jaw in frustration. The front door suddenly flew open as a gust of wind whipped down the street. “See? I lose control even when I try to keep it.”

“That’s because you’re trying too hard,” Donna responded.

I shook my head. “No, I am following Sofia’s directions, but I can’t keep it in if I feel an intense emotion. Which is apparently all the time lately. Wait. What are your powers?”

Donna gave a slight smile. “I was wondering when you’d ask. I’m not a witch.”

“What? But Sofia—”

Donna interrupted me. “I know all about the witches and the Circle. My mom was a witch. I do not have any powers, however. None manifested when I turned thirteen or sixteen, and nothing happened when I was in that boating accident. I am mundane. So not only did your parents love you unconditionally until they died, but you’re also a successful business owner and a powerful witch. What am I? I’m just a tax accountant. My parents thought nothing I did was good enough, not even when I was named valedictorian. And I do not have magic.”

“But, Donna, we used to be friends. Best friends. What happened?”

Donna shook her head. “It doesn’t matter now. The bottom line is you’re amazing and everything this town wants, while I’m never good enough for anything. I’m not good enough to have magic, own a business, or even have a long-term relationship, let alone get married. Why are you even talking to me about this? Pity? Is that it?” Donna stood, snatching her jacket from the chair. “I don’t need your pity. I need you to quit acting like you don’t realize how special you are and to… to leave me alone!” Donna yelled the last phrase, then stomped out of the coffee shop.

I stared after her, sitting perfectly still and ignoring the curious glances of the patrons as they quietly murmured to each other. The light from the windows dimmed and black clouds started covering the sky. Hard rain pelted the roof, drowning out the sound of conversations.

The lights flickered, eliciting a few gasps from the customers. I tried to reign in the anger, but deep yoga breaths weren’t helping. The longer I thought about what Donna said, the angrier I became. Thunder exploded directly over the building, and the electricity finally gave in to a mightier power. Several customers went to look out the window, apparently gauging their chances at making it home in the deluge.


About the Author: 

Alena Orrison is an award-winning author and a freelance writer and editor. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English, with an emphasis in Creative Writing. She started writing stories when she was three years old by telling them to her mom, who wrote them down. She has been editing professionally since 2015. Alena has several articles and stories published online and in anthologies. 

She currently lives in North Idaho with her husband, four children, two grandchildren, mom, three dogs, five cats, and a varying number of chickens. When she is not spending time with family and friends, gardening, boating, hiking, or at the gym, she is reading and writing. Alena also likes to crochet and spin yarn for some downtime. Some of her favorite authors include Ann McCaffrey, Elizabeth Cunningham, Elizabeth Gilbert, and Erin Morgenstern. You can visit her at alenaorrison.net











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THE CHIMERA PROJECT Ryser Academy Series Book 1 (A.P. Taber)

 



The Chimera Project
Ryser Academy Series 
Book One
A.P. Taber

Genre: YA/Sci-fi- adventure, space opera, alien encounter
Publisher: InkBound Press
Date of Publication:  08/23/2023
ISBN: 979-8-218-25732-3
ASIN: B0CFD6P4G9
Number of pages: 280
Word Count: 66k
Cover Artist: izii_designer

Tagline: In a Universe of Secrets. One Girl's Destiny Unfolds

Book Description: 

A celestial mystery. A destiny waiting to be embraced.

Neo's life at Ryser Academy was supposed to be straightforward, but enigmatic dreams and hidden family secrets have turned it into anything but ordinary. As she digs deeper, she uncovers truths about her lineage and the untapped powers within her, thrusting her onto a perilous path of adventure and self-discovery. Neo must summon the courage to face her destiny with the universe's fate hanging in the balance. Alongside her loyal friends, she embarks on an epic quest filled with interstellar intrigue, battling to protect not only her life and that of her friends but the fabric of the universe itself.

Will Neo rise to the challenge and unravel the mysteries that define her true identity? 

Discover the truth in The Chimera Project.

The secrets await. The adventure begins. The universe calls—are you ready to answer?

Amazon     Books2Read      Kobo


Google      Apple      BN 


Book Trailer: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnTAGggZq8c

Book Intro:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jruMalhzU8M


Excerpt

Embark on an adventure filled with celestial mysteries, hidden family secrets, and untapped powers as Neo, a determined young woman from Mars, navigates her way through the prestigious Ryser Academy. Plagued by vivid and enigmatic dreams, Neo's thirst for truth is ignited when she stumbles upon a discovery that sends shockwaves through her very soul.

In "Ryser Academy Book 1: The Chimera Project," Neo's journey of self-discovery takes her to the edge of the known universe and beyond. With each heart-pounding revelation, the layers of her lineage are peeled back, unveiling a tapestry of cosmic intrigue and hidden potential that threatens to consume her.

But Neo is not alone. Surrounded by loyal friends and driven by an unwavering sense of purpose, she finds herself thrust into the heart of an intergalactic conflict that is far greater than herself. At stake is not only her destiny but the very fabric of existence.

This pulse-pounding space opera weaves together elements of mystery, action, and personal growth as Neo must summon the strength within her to face her destiny head-on. Will she rise to the challenge and uncover the secrets that are key to her true identity? Or will the shadows of the past prove too overwhelming for her to overcome?

Join Neo on an epic quest filled with thrilling twists, unforgettable characters, and a story that will leave you breathlessly awaiting the next installment.




About the Author:

Meet A.P. Taber, the ever-busy soul balancing life as a teacher, nurse, mother, and artist. When she’s not saving lives or shaping young adults’ minds, she’s venturing into other realms through her writing. She’s busier than a Trekker at a Star Trek convention! Her first novel was penned at age 10, and she’s been hooked on books ever since. (No intervention needed, she promises!)

A.P. lives in Nevada with her family. She’s known to cast spells with her words, summon creatures with her art, and maybe—win a game of Magic: The Gathering now and then.

When she’s not teaching, healing the sick, or dreaming up other realms, you can find her traveling to exotic lands or locked in an intense game of D&D, MTG, or any other board game that requires a strategy guide thicker than a triple-decker sandwich. And if she’s not there? Check the couch, where she’s likely petting her adorable cats.

A.P. writes with a focus on exploring the psychological and sociopolitical aspects of futuristic settings and the intersection of future tech, sociopolitics, and complex inter-species relationships. Her work delves into the intricacies of human (and non-human) relationships in a universe where the stakes are as high as they are diverse.












Monday, October 16, 2023

SPOOKTACULAR FEATURE: AISLING-In the Land of Wolves by EILEEN SHEHAN with added mini pumpkin recipe!



Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes

 


Ingredients

CRUST
graham crackers (full sheets)
1/4 tsp. salt 
5 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted

FILLING
8 oz softened cream cheese
3 tblsp packed brown sugar
2 tblsp maple syrup
1 lg egg
1 egg yolk
1 can pumpkin puree
1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

For the crust: 

Preheat the oven to 350˚. 

Line a standard 12-cup muffin tin with liners. 

Place the graham crackers in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until fine crumbs form. 

Add the brown sugar and salt and continue to pulse. 

Drizzle in the melted butter and process until the crumbs are moist. 

Scoop a heaping tablespoonful of the graham cracker crumb mixture into each muffin liner. 

Press the crumbs flat into the bottom of each cup with the bottom of a measuring cup or drinking glass. 

Bake the crusts for 5 minutes, until golden. 

Transfer the muffin tin to a wire rack to cool while you prepare the filling.

For the filling: 

Beat the cream cheese, brown sugar, and maple syrup in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed for 2 to 3 minutes, until combined and fluffy. 

Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. 

Lower the mixer speed and beat in the egg and egg yolk just until incorporated. 

Beat in the pumpkin, and vanilla until combined. 

Beat in the cornstarch, spices, and salt. 

Divide the cheesecake filling evenly among the 12 cups, filling each about 3/4 of the way full. 

Bake 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges are set and dry, and centers are slightly jiggly.


Cool the cheesecakes in the pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes. 

Transfer to the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, until cooled completely. 

To serve, remove the cheesecakes from the pan and peel away the liners. 

Arrange cheesecakes on a serving platter and garnish with whipped cream.


AISLING: In the Land of Wolves
Aisling Trilogy  
Book One
Eileen Sheehan

Genre: Paranormal, thriller, romance
Date of Publication: 6-17-2023
ISBN: 979-8398829426
ASIN:  B0C8GFMT74
Number of pages: 486
Word Count: 67,137
Cover Artist: Eileen Sheehan

Tagline: Join Aisling as she navigates a world filled with magic, love, and danger.

Book Description: 

Join Aisling as she navigates a world filled with magic, love, and danger. A victim of bullying, Aisling is transported to a land and time she knows nothing about. 

But with the help of a community of powerful witches, she discovers a strength within herself that she never knew existed. 

As she faces challenges and falls in love, Aisling becomes a fearless and self-assured woman.
 
Amazon     BN     Kobo     Apple



Prologue

I have come to the conclusion that there can be mean girls in any species. They are not just amongst the humans. They are not limited to the teen years, either.  Although, they seem to be more prevalent during that time. What led me to this conclusion was simple experience.  You see, I was a victim of mean girls of the worst type starting at a rather sensitive age.

The mean girl abuse didn’t start until I was in my mid-teens and my mother moved us from a small West Virginia township with a population of twenty-two that was located about two hours from Washington, DC to a community that just managed to qualify as a city with its population of twenty-five-thousand and ten. It was located just over the Virginia border, which shortened my mother’s drive to her monthly meeting of the witch wannnabes in downtown DC by an hour.

The little township of Bloomsburg, West Virginia consisted, mostly, of my blood relatives which were either the Loftus or the O’Shea - all of whom were fascinated with witchcraft.  To my knowledge, however, none had been able to truly master it.

The small city of Meddleson, Virginia was void of any of my kin other than those in my household - my mother, one older half-brother, and one older half-sister - both of whom left for college before we were even settled in. It did, however, possess a closely knit community of actual practicing witches. It was my mother’s hope to be able to rub elbows with these magic practitioners and finally learn the art. She insisted that witchcraft was in our blood and it was simply lost to time and oppression. If we could mix and mingle with those who had not lost it, we would surely get it back.

At the time, I had no interest in learning or practicing magic, nor could I understand why my family felt it was such an important talent to possess.

My half-siblings’ father died in a car accident when they were quite young. He was the love of my mother’s life. No matter what room in our home that you might venture into, you  were sure to find at least one photo of him.  

I never knew my own father. Nor was there a photo of him for me to see. Whenever I would ask my mother to tell me about him, she would insist that he was nothing more than a sperm donor who had passed through our little borough in the night and I was to give him no more thought than that.

Although I found it disappointing, it didn’t bother me nearly as much as the intense emotion that I would sense pouring from every pore of my mother’s body whenever I brought up the subject of my father.  She would visibly tremble with what I had assumed was the desire to see him dead, or, at the very least, castrated and paraded, naked, through the streets.


About the Author:

Sitting at her antique rolltop desk in her home in upstate New York, Internationally Published and Award Winning author, Eileen Sheehan, writes steamy romance thrillers for the mature adult with a sexy male and strong female. The majority of her novels are paranormal, but some are just plain novels about people in love. As the years progressed, so did her writing style. Although she still includes romance and has a happily ever after ending, her stories tend to have more mystery, thrills, and horror in them.

She makes it a point to write a novel length that will allow the busy readers to be able to sit down in an evening (no more than two) and be taken on a journey that was created by her active imagination without having a week go by before they gets to the end of the story.

An incurable romantic, she has a love affair with at least one of her characters... one book at a time. She hopes the same thing happens to you.

Eileen started out as a freelance writer for periodical magazines and newspapers. From there, she tried her hand at writing screenplays. Her screenplay, "When East Meets West" was a finalist in the 2001 Independent International Film and Video Festival at Madison Square Gardens, NYC. Finally finding her niche, she lets her imagination loose with paranormal romance/thrillers. 

If you want to see more quality writings at a reasonable price, please support her efforts by leaving a review and becoming a follower










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Monday, October 9, 2023

SPOOKTACULAR FEATURE: VAMPIRE INIQUITY Tugurlan Chronicles by EILEEN SHEEHAN with bonus read The Werewolf Lure

 



The Werewolf Lure by Eileen Sheehan

In the night when the moon is full, I listen to the howling of the beasts

They speak to each other with a sound all their own as they call to gather for the feast

Both man and beast they are combined from a curse made long ago
VAMP
They walk as man both day and night until the full moon the beast does show

A strange thing happens deep within when I hear the cursed call in the wild

I let blood and body obey the lure to become the moon’s beast child.


Vampire Iniquity 
Tugurlan Chronicles
Book One
Eileen Sheehan

Genre: Paranormal-thriller-romance
Publisher: Earth Wise Books
Date of Publication: 01/11/2016
ISBN: 978-1726747400
ASIN:  ‎ B01AIJ7NWK
Number of pages:546
Word Count: 90,471

Cover Artist: Eileen Sheehan

Tagline: Join Dan on his journey of discovery as he not only learns that vampires exist, but that he has inherited the gift of being a slayer.

Book Description: 

Enter a dark and dangerous world that is filled with vampires, cannibalism, and human trafficking in the award winning novel, "Vampire Iniquity", Book One of the "Tugurlan Chronicles". 

When Dan gets tangled up in a rescue mission to save his friend's fiancé, he is taken on a journey of self-discovery and family secrets. Battling against egotistical Dracula descendants, he soon learns of his family's legacy as vampire slayers. 

With the help of his cousin, they must enter the den of iniquity once again to rid the wolf of these evil beings. But, will they be successful? And, at what cost? Find yourself on the edge of your seat in this thrilling and captivating read.

Vampire Iniquity Audio Sample https://bit.ly/3sDwmaR


Amazon      BN     Apple     Kobo     Audible     Smashwords

I lay sleeping in the fetal position on the damp earthen floor of my cell as a hazy light filtered through the small windows. The clanking of heavy metal as a pair of large hairy hands unlocked the cage door brought me quickly to the alert.

My eyes had finally adjusted to the darkness and I was able to see a fair bit of my surroundings. I rose up slowly, staring in disbelief as an enormous man-wolf-like creature reached down and put both of his hairy hands under my arms. He picked me up off my feet as if I was nothing more than a rag doll and held me dangling in the air. Without warning, the creature slammed me down so hard I was sure my feet were going to be repositioned above my head. I was given only a brief moment of reprieve to catch my balance before I was pushed out of the cage.

Puffs of dank dust swirled around my head as I stumbled and landed on the dungeon floor. I was grateful for my martial arts training and my understanding of going with the motion instead of fighting it. Shifting my body, I spun back into a crouched balance. I had no idea what this creature planned on doing with me but I was determined to go down fighting. I wouldn’t make it easy for the ugly beast, you could bet money on that.

“I bet you are wondering how a damp, dusty basement of this nature can exist in the desert,” came a voice through the darkness. “You would be surprised what exists beyond your realms of reality.”

I spun toward the voice as Dumitru’s tall, well-built figure stepped out from the depths of the shadows. The favorite son of Wadim and his first wife -an Italian Countess who Wadim captured and turned vampire centuries ago- there was no guessing at his ancestry. His sharp, vampire features were accentuated by rich, thick, glistening black hair that was tied snuggly at the base of his neck. Taught muscles bulged beneath the flowing material of his linen shirt. The ruffles at the neck and cuffs seemed out of place on his lean, muscular body.

Although at first glance he looked Caucasian, as I looked more closely I could see his Asian ancestry; especially in his eyes.

“My father has many talents,” the newcomer said. A chuckle, that almost resembled a growl, oozed from his evil sneer. “Stand up!”

I rose slowly, rubbing my sore muscles absent mindedly as I did. Purple welts were beginning to form on my forearms from my encounter with the wolf-man.

“Wu’s star pupil is injured?” He said sarcastically. He reached out and grabbed my arm with such force I was hard pressed to keep my balance. “Well, we cannot have that. I want you in perfect form when we fight.”

I couldn’t hold back the gag reaction my body had from the putrid stench of flesh and blood on Dumitru’s breath ....




About the Author:

Sitting at her antique rolltop desk in her home in upstate New York, Internationally Published and Award Winning author, Eileen Sheehan, writes steamy romance thrillers for the mature adult with a sexy male and strong female. The majority of her novels are paranormal, but some are just plain novels about people in love. As the years progressed, so did her writing style. Although she still includes romance and has a happily ever after ending, her stories tend to have more mystery, thrills, and horror in them.

She makes it a point to write a novel length that will allow the busy readers to be able to sit down in an evening (no more than two) and be taken on a journey that was created by her active imagination without having a week go by before they gets to the end of the story.

An incurable romantic, she has a love affair with at least one of her characters... one book at a time. She hopes the same thing happens to you.

Eileen started out as a freelance writer for periodical magazines and newspapers. From there, she tried her hand at writing screenplays. Her screenplay, "When East Meets West" was a finalist in the 2001 Independent International Film and Video Festival at Madison Square Gardens, NYC. Finally finding her niche, she lets her imagination loose with paranormal romance/thrillers. 

If you want to see more quality writings at a reasonable price, please support her efforts by leaving a review and becoming a follower








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SPOOKTACULAR FEATURE: DANCING VAMPIRES with CORNELIA AMIRI

 



Samhain—Halloween’s Alluring Ancestor

Samhain, (sow-in) is the Celtic New Year, and it falls from October 31st to November 1st. It was also a magical day. The ancient Celts believed that since Samhain fell between the old year and the new, it was a day without time. That diminished the veil between the earthly and the ethereal (the worlds of mortals and immortal—the dead and the living).

We get many of our modern Halloween traditions from ancient Samhain lore.
To celebrate the new year, the ancient Celts feasted on fresh picked turnips, apples, and hazelnuts, and left plates of delectable food, mead, and treats out for their ghostly kin visiting from across the veil for Samhain.

Let’s talk about those turnips. The ancient Celts also masterfully sculptured mangel-wurzels, a hearty turnip, to look like skulls, and placed candles inside to light them within. Sounds like the modern-day tradition of jack-o’-lanterns, doesn’t it?

And those apples. They were as big a part of Samhain as today’s caramel apples, candy apples, bobbing-apples. But on Samhain, you had to keep your apples away from pucas. Those mischievous, shapeshifting fey would spoil any apples left after the feast. Even now, I’d think twice before biting into an apple plucked post-Halloween. A sneaky puca might be lurking around.

And what about hazelnuts? It was believed they gave wisdom and vigor to anyone who ate them. Maybe I should eat a handful of two on Halloween to seek ancient insight.

But the ancient Celts weren’t vegetarians, a big part of the Samhain feast was boiled and roasted meat. As autumn bid farewell, livestock not fit for winter’s chill met their fate, ensuring a table heaped with rich meats. And to wash it down? Nothing less than the most intoxicating ale or mead.

But the feast was just part of the rowdy Samhain festival. The Celts also celebrated with lively games, from thrilling hurling matches to exhilarating horse races.

The main event of the evening was the massive, roaring bonfire. In Ireland, the druids ensured that each year, when the sun went down on the hill of Tlachtga (Hill of Ward) about 12 miles from Tara, they ignited the grandest fire—its flames reaching out to the inky night freckled with sparkling stars and crowned by a silver crescent moon. 


Dancing Vampires 

Cornelia Amiri

Genre: Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Cornelia Amiri 
Date of Publication:  ‎April 30, 2017
ISBN: 1545309116
ASIN: B06ZZS5S8R
Number of pages: 422
Word Count: 111,673
Cover Artist: Kyra Starr

Tagline: Remember when you were having the best day ever and, in a flash, it turned into the worst one?

Book Description:

This is the complete six-book novella series of Dancing Vampires: Dance of the Vampires, Vampire Highland Fling, A Bonnie Vampire Dancer, Vampire Waltz, Valkyrie Vampire Sword Dancing, and Some Vampires Shimmy.

Remember when you were having the best day ever and, in a flash, it turned to the worse one?

Coming from the pub with your brothers, having a laugh, you see seven stunning women standing in the road. One starts dancing with you. Her sexy red fingernails turn to talons, and she shreds your back.

No? Maybe stuff like that just happens to me and my brothers… and a few other guys in the Scottish Highlands.

Ian’s right. I’m Sorcha, the one he danced with. My sisters and I are vampiric-fey. We were hunting men. But we only went after the McDuff brothers, a god, a bagpiper, an IT guy, and a steampunk musician. That’s it.

We decided to forget about drinking their blood and try loving them instead. But even with all the sizzling passion Ian and I and my sisters and their lovers have for each other… they’re obstacles to forbidden love.

Two big ones are:

The war goddess Morrigan. You do not want to make her mad.

And the Valkyries. Those you-know-what’s are bananas covered in nuts.

To find out if my sisters and I conquer them all and end up with the men we love, hit the Buy Now button above and come dance with the vampires.


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“What?” Mordak asked. Me? Love a human? Of course not. “By the goddess, you’ve lost your minds. I just want this one’s blood for myself. Run along, get your own. We’ll meet at the portal before dawn.”
      “See you back at the cairn.” Fuamnach tilted her chin in the air and vanished.
      Aithbhreac disappeared as well.
      Mordak shifted her eyes back to the mortal. His mere presence commanded attention. What would be wrong with having a tryst with him? Goddess Morrigan has affairs with humans all the time.
      I thought they’d never leave. She fixed her gaze on the tall, striking man, and swinging her hips in a saucy fashion, she sauntered toward him. As she “drew near him, she batted her eyelashes and flashed a smile to draw him in. Dancing with him would be even more fun than usual.
      A noisy, whoosh-like, shaking sound caught her attention. What now? She gasped with shock. This cannot be.
      Three women descended from the ebony sky with the wings on their bronze helmets flapping like a bird’s.
      What is happening? She hadn’t drunk any heather ale today.
“The vanilla-blond women landed smoothly on their feet, the wings stopped flapping and laid back on their helmets, now totally still. All three women glared at her with glacier blue eyes.
      Her palms were damp with sweat, she felt shaky. The earthly realm was such a crazy place. Why did she send her sisters away? She needed them now. Whoever or whatever these tall creatures in plate armor corselets, flimsy white skirts and fur-topped boots were, they weren’t smiling at her.
      She noticed the human checking out the women from the rear and glancing at her as well. He had a huge grin on his face, as if his dreams had come true. Mordak, however, faced a nightmare.
      The statuesque blonde in the center tilted her chin in the air. “The man is mine.”
      “Yours?” Anger pulsated through Mordak’s body. “He’s not yours.”
      People couldn’t just fly down from who knows where and claim the man she liked. Mordak schooled her face into composure and met the woman’s gaze. “Just who or what…are you?”
      “Randgrid.” The tallest of the blondes didn’t break her stare, not even one blink. “I am a Valkyrie.”
With a thin, tight-lipped expression, she set her hand on her hip. “Be gone, baobhan sith.”
      “Me. No, no…you’re the one in the wrong place.” Mordak shook her hand at the Valkyrie. “This is Scotland, not Denmark or Valhalla or wherever you think you are.”
      “He’s a Gunn.” Randgrid jerked her head toward the man. “So, he is ours.”
      “Of Clan Gunn?” She glared at the silly woman in the winged helmet. “The word clan is the whole point. He’s Scottish. He’s mine.”
      Randgrid and her two sisters said together, “Gunn is the point. The descendant of a Viking hero is ours.”


About the Author: 

Cornelia Amiri was introduced through books to the woman who became her favorite historical character, Boudica. The Celtic Warrior Queen made her start writing professionally. Cornelia loves history and in reading a book about the dark ages, she came across the rebel queen, who inspired Cornelia so much, she started jotting down notes, but they were fiction, visions of her involved in the Boudica revolt. Before Cornelia knew it, she’d accidentally written a rough draft for a novel. And she’s been writing books on purpose ever since. Drawing on her love of a happy ending, Cornelia has written over 40 published romance books.

Now, for the more mundane stuff — Cornelia Amiri and her muse, Severus the Cat, live amid the hustle and bustle of sultry Houston, Texas. When not writing, Cornelia loves to read, watch movies, and attend comic cons. She is currently working on a sequel to Rare Finds and a sequel to The Brass Octopus, which she is renaming and republishing as The Librarian and the Rake.










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